Story Time
by Kathryn Howard
(2 Cor. 1:3-5, NIV).
I own a T-shirt with the message, “When it rains, look for rainbows. When it’s dark, look for stars.” The phrase took on new meaning during my diabetic teenager’s recent hospitalization. As I stood in the hospital bathroom, that phrase stared back at me from the mirror.
“Okay, Lord,” I said aloud. “Where are the rainbows? Where are the stars?”
He answered immediately. “Ethan.”
God had provided financially for my son and I to go to camp out of town with our youth group that weekend. But he also provided for our friend, Ethan, a pediatric ER nurse, to be there when things went awry.
The Father of compassion. The God of all comfort. The Lord we know by these beautiful, nurturing names encourages us in all our troubles so that we can do the same for others. Our kind Father never wastes our pain. Even when nothing makes sense, he promises he will use it all for good.
In the middle of the muddle, we don’t always notice what’s happening to those around us. Pain and shock blindside us. When time passes and processing difficulties becomes more bearable, we must hunt for this promised good and see what we were meant to learn from the experience.
We must also beware of looking only at the bad and being overwhelmed when that is all we can see. Looking for the good, and using it to help others, is a choice.
I write to participate in this circle of comfort, bragging on God to show others how he loves us. Like when he showed up in an Appalachian hospital in his four mountain daughters, who delivered my stillborn son when I was all alone. Or during an opportunity to console a widow, because my man moved in with Jesus too.
Everyone has stories. We need to gift them to one another. God weaves our trials into tapestries of compassion and inspiration, when we surrender them. Our faith increases when we meet overcomers. We believe, if she can get through that, I can get through this. Our words offer comfort, reminding our readers God is with us in the storms and brings us through to the sunshine on the other side.
Sweet Jesus, give us courage to unveil the struggles we’ve walked through with you. Empower our writing so we can flow in that circular comfort you designed for us. Give us eyes to seek and find the good, for your glory. In Your precious name we pray. Amen.
Kathryn Howard is mama to five awesome humans, five sweet cats, and two adorable dogs. She is a passionate Mary Kay consultant, and a joyful middle school Home Ec. and Culinary teacher. Her favorite things to do are encourage others, and take morning coffee walks with Jesus.
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